The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-03-23
THE ANNUAL FLOOD.
At Mandan, Washes Away Houses and
Stock.

Not long since steam boat captain
wrote to friend in Montana inquiring
if there would be enough water in the
Missouri river this summer for naviga-
ton, he has his answer at Mandan where
houses have been swept away, trains
delayed and the Missouri river bottom
for miles and miles submerged
TO a GREAT DEPTH.
The immense amount of snow yet in the
Mountains will continue to keep the
river very high even al r the gorges,
which are now prncipitatils SO much
water upon defenselcs, Mandan, are re.
moved. The Independent of Sunday
gives an appalling ace ount Of the situation
and sa. $ that the mighty flood of waters
still maintains its almost unabated height
The loss entailed thus far in the aggreg-
ate is something enormous, when the
damage to the roadbed and telegraph
lines and other railroad property is taken
into consideration to say nothing Of the
numerous smaller dwellings which have
been swept away and losses resulting
from the total obstruction of all traffic
between the opposite shores ofthe river,
and that naturally caused by general
suspension of business and thorough
flooding and soaking up of the whole
town.
THE FLOW OF ICE
has been So great that, although several
attempts have been made by parties an
xious to reach the eastern shore to lross
| the river in boats none were suc,rssful.
No communication whatever has been
had with Bismarck for thirty-six hours.
To add to the utter desoation of the as
pecta terrible blizzard set in about noon
and is now (midnight) raging furionsly
and the air is now filled with pelting
snow. The thermometer sank rapidly
when the storm began, but not below 20
above zero, which unless it grows colder,
may possibly prevent serious loss of
among the many who have left their
homes and sought temporary sh ,lter
among the hills and highlands along the
| H..
8 p. IN. intelligence was teleploned from
Fort Lincoln that numbar of people
could be seen from the heights which
the post is situated on the opposite shore
ENTIRELY SURROUNDED BY WATER
and with no apparent means of escape
unless aid be received from without the
area upon which they are confined. 1t
thought that about dozen families of
surrounding ranchmen are gathered up-
on the prominence where they are
plainly visible from the post. Great
fears are cntalned for their safety, as it
is thought that they will hardly be able
to hive out the night in their exposed
situation unless the raging storm abates.
Upon receipt of the news of their precari-
ous predicalnent the following message
was sent to the citizens of Bismarck:
Go to the rescue of the people on the
bottom, opposite Fort Lincoln, who are
surrounded by water and must perish in
the storm,if not soon relieved; officers at
the fort sent word here; several on top
OF houses ard hay stacks; cannot reach
them from Lincoln on account of the
ice"
This message meeting with unfortunate
circumstances at various points en- route, i,
was obliged to be sent via Portland, San
Francisco, Ogden, Omaha, Chicago and
st, Paul, traversing
NEARLY FIVE THOUSAND MILES
ofwire in order to reach its destination,
only four miles distance by the usual
route. Since receiving the first intellg-
encc IN relation to the Imprisonment of
these people by the flood telephone
communication has been interrupted by
: the increased fury OF the storm and moth
ing further can be learned fiom this side
of the river as to their fate All trains On
, the Northern Pacific from either direction
have been forced to hault at the river
: and as vet
. ABsoLrTELN No COMMUNICATION
b has been established. 1t is thought, how
4 ever, that ifthe storm abates it will bt
, possible tn transfer passengers and the
! mails in hoats
+ All last night swinging light wa
a seen in the woods and several vain at
: tempts were made To send a rescuin
: party to their relief The light was
t signal of distress from settler who, it i.
7 this morning by looking through fielt
a glass, has been on top of his stack of ha
n since the raising of the water, swingln
% a lantern in hone of
CALLING HELP,
and the stock is completely surrounde
by water, two miles from the shore q
=, the new made stream and almost atloa
K; Two rescuing parties were sent ont thi
lr morning and have fnund several famile
on the roofs of houses The field glass
er being used with goods results; and nun
ID erous settlers have been discovered, sou
sa persons on trees and others on boatin
NJ timbers.
The following is from the Countr
es- Gentlemans abstract Of Il paper read i
do Mr.. James Wood before the Ithaca Ii
" | stilut,4.